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Indians try to avoid the brooms in capper with Rangers

Jun 5, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - It seems like the magic start to the year for Cleveland could be wearing off, as the Indians will try to avoid a sweep and their longest losing skid on the season when they battle the Texas Rangers in the finale of a four-game set at Progressive Field.

The Indians, who haven't been swept in a four-game set by the Rangers since August of 1978, still own the best mark in baseball at 33-23, but now the team is suffering through a rough patch, having lost eight of its last 11 contests.

For the Rangers to complete the sweep they will need C.J. Wilson to continue his strong efforts. Wilson did not factor in the decision of his last contest, but the southpaw was extremely effective against Tampa Bay. In 6 2/3 innings of work, Wilson allowed just three runs on three hits and four walks, but also struck out 10 batters.

Wilson began his career as a reliever, so he has made 20 overall appearances against the Indians, however, the hard-throwing lefty has started in just two of those contests. Overall, Wilson is 1-1 against the Tribe with a mediocre 3.38 earned run average.

With the Detroit Tigers quickly creeping up the backs of the Indians, Mitch Talbot will take the hill for the Tribe looking to get his club back in the win column.

Talbot has only made four starts on the year, but he has been inconsistent in that short amount of time. After allowing eight runs in a loss to Boston, the right-hander responded with a solid effort against Tampa Bay. In the win over the Rays, Talbot surrendered just one run in just over six innings of duty.

The 27-year-old has only made one career start against the Rangers and it was a forgettable one, as Talbot was dissected for four runs on seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

The Indians have clearly been outmatched in this series, as the Rangers have outscored the home team 22-6. On Saturday, though, it was Texas' pitching that was the story, as Derek Holland tossed a five-hit shutout in a 4-0 victory..

Holland (5-1) walked one and fanning five as the Rangers won their fourth straight game.

Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz provided the all the offense for Texas as both hit two-run home runs. Yorvit Torrealba also added two hits for the victors.

Asdrubal Cabrera belted his 15th double of the season, while Michael Brantley and Grady Sizemore added hits for Cleveland, which has lost five in a row at home. The Tribe haven't dropped six straight there since July 5-17, 2005.

Fausto Carmona (3-7) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits to pick up the loss for the Indians, who saw their losing streak expand to three games.

The Rangers have won 15 of their last 18 versus the Indians, going 10-2 at Progressive Field in that time.